Utility stock (ballast carrier) 013 + 014 + 018 + 017 at the by that time very end of the line. By now extended to Zenderpark seen in the distance.

Photographed at The Vintage Times Street Rod Club’s 38th Annual Rod Run in Springfield, Illinois on September 1, 2012.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 14th Annual McLean County Antique Auto Club Exhibition on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Illinois on August 7, 2010. The event is co-sponsored by the David Davis Mansion Foundation.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Utility car H14 (ex 260) It seems to be a surrealistic picture (art) and in a certain way it is not only due to the light circumstance. Some motorcars (HAWA) from an old series (250-299) turned into utility vehicles mainly as brine sprinkler to coop with harsh winter conditions on rail. Here they are parked at the depot Frans Halsstraat today a tram museum.

Photographed at the 62nd Secretary of State Antique Vehicle Show in Springfield, Illinois on September 10, 2011.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs thoughtfully organized into albums, and presented by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at The Vintage Times Street Rod Club 37th Annual Rod Run in Springfield, Illinois on September 3, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at The Vintage Times Street Rod Club’s 38th Annual Rod Run in Springfield, Illinois on September 1, 2012.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

The Ford GPW Jeep and its twin, the Willys MB Jeep, can lay claim to being the most famous military vehicle in the world. Production began in July 1941 and when ended in 1945 Ford had produced 287,000 GPW's and Willys had produced 361,000 model MB's.

It's technical description was that of a ¼ ton 4x4 truck and the name ''Jeep'' came from either Eugene the Jeep, a character in the Popeye strip or a term used by engineers for untested vehicles. What ever its origins it began the legacy of four-wheel drive cross-country vehicles which remain popular today.

Supplied to all Allied forces, the vehicle was used in a variety of roles from reconnaissance to towing trailers, guns and other weapons. They were used by the British SAS with Lewis machine guns, they carried radios, were adapted as ambulances, made lighter for airborne use and even converted to run on railways. Their achievements are legendary from transporting Presidents to British Royalty to privates and celebrities. No film about the Second World was complete without a Jeep appearing in it at some point so it became the first vehicle acquired by the Museum.

Specifications -

▪︎Engine: 4-cylinder petrol, 54bhp

▪︎Speed: 65mph

▪︎Range: 300 miles (without load)

▪︎Weight: 1.6 tons

▪︎Crew: 2 + 2 passengers

▪︎Origin: U.S.A in 1943.

Information from The Muckleburgh Military Collection.

Photographed at the 14th Annual McLean County Antique Auto Club Exhibition on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Illinois on August 7, 2010. The event is co-sponsored by the David Davis Mansion Foundation.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 29th Annual Nostalgic Indoor Invitational Auto Show at Avanti's Dome in Pekin, Illinois on March 30, 2013. The show is presented by the Early Ford V-8 Club of America Regional Group #51.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

The Vickers-Armstrongs Universal Carrier was one of the best loved of all Light Armoured Vehicles used by the British Army, it was developed from a requirement in 1921 for an Armoured Tracked Ammunition Carrier to avoid using horses to carry ammunition across bullet swept battlefields.

The first Universal Carriers were armed with a single Bren Gun so they quickly became known as the ''Bren Gun Carrier'' regardless of their purpose. This one is fitted with a ''Boys Anti-Tank Rifle''.

The first of the Carriers, the 'Bren Carrier' and the 'Scout Carrier' with specific roles, entered service before the war, but a single improved design that could replace these, the 'Universal Carrier' was introduced in 1940. The vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth Forces during World War Two, they were usually used for transporting Personnel and Equipment, mostly Support Weapons, or as Machine Gun Platforms. Approximately 113,000 units were built by 1960 in the United Kingdom and abroad, it is probably the most produced Armoured Fighting Vehicle in history.

The hull is made from a simple steel box with the engine mounted mid centre. The Driver and Commander / Gunner sit in the front near the radiator fan, the noise from which would make conversion impossible so headphones were used. Men or equipment were carried in the rear either side of the engine with other Weapons such as Mortars. The front set of wheels are mounted on a shaft which can be moved side to side to give gentle turns while sharp turns are done by brakes on each track. Driving controls are conventional so minimal specialist training was needed. By the latter part of World War Two most Universal Carrier's would more weight than they were designed for so it was not unusual to see a spare wheel strapped to the front glacis plate.

British variants:-

**Carrier - Machine Gun No.21937

**Carrier - Bren No.2 Mk.I and Mk.II Seating for three Crew, armour plate on front and left hand side only

**Carrier - Scout Mk.I Carried a No.11 Wireless set, armour plate on front and right hand side only.

**Carrier - Cavalry Mk.I used for carrying Personnel of Light Tank Regiments in Mobile Divisions. A total of 50 were built by Nuffield, discontinued with the reorganization of the Mobile Divisions into Armoured Divisions. Seating was provided for six Passengers on benches.

**Carrier - Armoured Observation Post for carrying Royal Artillery Observers under protection, the Machine Gun Position was fitted with an armoured shutter instead of gun slit, 95 built in two Mk's.

**Carrier - Armoured, 2-pounder A Carrier, Machine Gun converted to mount a 2-pdr gun with fixed armoured shield protecting the crew

**Carrier - Armoured 6-pounder:-

*Universal Mk.I initial model

*Universal Mk.II updated stowage and layout, battery moved behind the divisional plate, towing hitch added. Welded waterproofed hull. Crew of four. 2in Mortar or 4in Smoke Mortar beside Gunner. Spare wheel on front hull. weighed ½ ton more than Mk.I.

*Universal Mk.III welded hull as Mk.II modified air inlet and engine cover

**Wasp - (FT, Transportable, No.2) A Flamethrower-Equipped variant, using the "Flame-Thrower, Transportable, No.2". The Mk.I had a Fixed Flamethrower on the front of the vehicle fed from two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 100 imperial gallons, 1,000 produced. The Mk.II had the projector in the Co-Driver's position. The Mk.IIC (C for Canadian) had a single 75 imperial gallon fuel tank on the rear of the vehicle outside the armour protection, allowing a third Crew member to be carried.

Specifications:-

▪︎Type: Armoured Personnel Carrier / Weapons Carrier

▪︎Place of Origin: United Kingdom

▪︎Conflicts: World War Two / Indonesian National Revolution / Indochina War / 1948 Arab–Israeli War / Costa Rican Civil War / Korean War / Suez Crisis / Biafran War

▪︎Produced: 1934 to 1960

▪︎Number Built: 113,000

▪︎Mass: 3 ton 16cwt laden / 3 ton 5cwt unladen (Mk.I Universal Carrier)

▪︎Length: 12ft / Width: 6ft 9in / Height: 5ft 2in

▪︎Crew: 3

▪︎Armour: 0.27in to 0.39in

▪︎Main Armament: Bren Light Machine Gun / Boys Anti-Tank Rifle

▪︎Secondary Armament: one Vickers Machine Gun / M2 Browning Machine Gun / 2in or 3in ▪︎Mortar or Projector Infantry or Anti-Tank carried

▪︎Powerplant: Ford V8 3.9-litre petrol, 85hp at 3,500rpm

▪︎Transmission: 4 forward / 1 reverse

▪︎Suspension: Horstmann

▪︎Fuel Capacity: 20 Imperial gallons

▪︎Operational Range: 150 miles

▪︎Maximum Speed: 30mph.

Photographed at the 2011 International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Illinois on September 23-25, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the Annual Fred Britenstine Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show on the Square in Virden, Illinois on June 18, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 15th Annual McLean County Antique Auto Club Exhibition on the grounds of the David Davis Mansion in Bloomington, Illinois on August 6, 2011. The event is co-sponsored by the David Davis Mansion Foundation.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Utility stock (ballast carrier) 017 at the by that time very end of the line.

Photographed at the 23rd Annual Ansar Shrine Classic Car Unit Car Show in Lincoln Park, Springfield, Illinois on June 12, 2011.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs thoughtfully organized into albums, and presented by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 8th Annual Mechanicsburg Magic Car & Truck Show in Mechanicsburg, Illinois on May 18, 2013.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed in 2013 at Country Classic Cars in Staunton, Illinois.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

The Loyd Carrier was one of a number of small Tracked Utility Vehicles used by the British and Commonwealth Forces during World War Two, fulfilling a number of roles including Troop Transportation, Reconnaissance, and Towing Guns around the Battlefield alongside the Bren, Scout and Machine Gun Carriers. Though perhaps thought a little mundane compared to other Armored Vehicles, Carriers were the backbone of the British Army in the war. They even found use throughout the Forces of the Commonwealth and the American Military. Captured examples were also used by the Germans. The Universal ‘Bren’ Carrier, perhaps the most famous of these ''Tankettes'' they still holds the record for the most produced Armoured Vehicle of all time at around 113,000 built. The Loyd Carrier, officially the ‘Carrier, Tracked, Personnel Carrying’, was designed by Captain Vivian G. Loyd (1894-1972) in the late 1930's. It was not his first foray into Armoured Vehicle design. Loyd had previously worked with Sir John Carden on the famous Carden-Loyd series of Tankettes.

The British Loyd Carrier was part of a rapid-development program, it was built upon the mechanicals of a Fordson 7V 15 cwt 4x2 Truck incorporating the Ford V8 Side-valve 85hp engine, gearbox, transmission and front axle, also including the mild steel bodywork to which armour plate ''BP Plate'' (from ''Bullet Proof'') was bolted (to the front and upper sides) depending on the application. A large, sloped, 0.27in thick armored plate was placed at the front of the vehicle via bolts at the front and on the sides of the hull. This was enough to deflect Small Arms fire. Due to the sloping, it was also a little more effective than the flat structure of the 'Universal Carrier' for example.

A long stowage box was often placed in front of this sloped plate, above the exposed front axle. Pioneering tools were then stowed atop this box, with spare wheels stowed on the glacis plate. The upper hull was enclosed at the sides and front but was open at the rear without a roof, this was not seen as an issue as the Carrier was not expected to function as a fighting vehicle and, as such, did not need extensive protection or armament. There was an option to attach a canvas tilt roof could be added to protect the occupants from the elements a standard fitment from the factory. This was supported by a three-piece framework. A single Bren Light Machine Gun was sometimes carried for defensive purposes.

The engine was at the rear of the Carrier with the radiator behind rather than in front, the transmission then took the drive forward to the axle at the very front where it drove the tracks. Both the front drive sprockets and idlers (which were also sprocketed) at the rear of the tracks were fitted with brakes, actuated by a pair of levers by the Driver. To turn the vehicle to the left, the brakes were applied on that side and the Carrier would slew round the stopped track.

The Army tested the Loyd Carrier in 1939 and placed an initial order for 200 as the Carrier, Tracked, Personnel Carrying i.e. a Personnel Carrier. Initial deliveries were from Vivian Loyd's own company, but production moved to the larger firms, including the Ford Motor Company and Wolseley Motors (13,000 between them) and Dennis Brothers Ltd, Aveling & Barford and Sentinel Waggon Works, the total production of the Loyd Carrier was approximately 26,000 units.

▪︎Type: Armoured Personnel Carrier

▪︎Place of Origin: United Kingdom

▪︎In Service: 1939 to 1960's

▪︎Used By: British & Commonwealth / Post-War Danish, Dutch and Belgian Armies

▪︎Conflicts: World War Two

▪︎Designer: Vivian Loyd

▪︎Designed: 1939

▪︎Manufacturer: Vivian Loyd & Co and others

▪︎Produced: 1939 to 1944

▪︎Number Built: 26,000

▪︎Variants: Mk.I / Mk.II

▪︎Mass: 4.5 tons

▪︎Length: 13ft 11in / Width: 6ft 9in / Height: 4ft 8in

▪︎Crew: 1

▪︎Armour: up to 0.27in where fitted

▪︎Main Armament: none

▪︎Powerplant: Ford V8 Side-valve petrol, 85bhp

▪︎Power / Weight: 18.9hp / tonne

▪︎Payload Capacity: 7-8 passengers or similar load

▪︎Transmission: Ford 4 forward, 1 reverse gearbox

▪︎Suspension: Horstmann twin wheel bogies

▪︎Ground Clearance: 8in

▪︎Fuel Capacity: 22 gallons

▪︎Operational Range: 140 miles on road

▪︎Maximum Speed: 30mph maximum on road

▪︎Steering System: braked - two drums per track.

Photographed at the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival Car Show in Lincoln, Illinois on August 29, 2010. The event is sponsored by the Railsplitter Antique Auto Club.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Redesigned in 2018 from the ground up, one of the latest Jeep Wranglers for 2021 is a plug-in electric variant dubbed the 4xe to bring the American icon up-to-speed with green energy expectations. As the proud owner of three prior Wranglers, and my current 2016 Unlimited, I enjoy the “spirit of adventure” Wranglers offer and the unequivocal go-anywhere and self-assurance they present. And now, I can partake in Jeep group activities with more planetary consciousness.

The Ural-375 is a General Purpose 4.5 ton 6x6 Truck, which has been produced at the Ural Automotive Plant in the Russian SFSR since 1961. The Ural-375 replaced the ZIL-157 as the standard Soviet Army truck in 1979. It was itself replaced by the Ural-4320. The Ural-375 was used, for example, as a platform for the BM-21 Grad Rocket Launcher, Troop Carrier, and as a Supply Carrier. The Ural-375 comes in a variety of models, the list is very exhaustive:

▪︎Ural-375 - Base model, it has a canvas roof, and no steel cabin.

▪︎Ural-375A - The same but has a slightly longer chassis.

▪︎Ural-375D - The most produced 375, which has a proper all-steel cabin.

▪︎Ural-375E KET-L - Recovery Vehicle equipped with a front-mounted and a rear-mounted winch along with a jib crane.

▪︎Ural-375S - 6x6 Tractor Unit.

▪︎Ural-377 - A 6x4 civilian truck.

▪︎Ural-377S - 6x4 Tractor Unit

▪︎Ural-375DM - Modernized version of the Ural-375D, built at least until 1991.

General characteristics:

▪︎Manufacturer: Ural Automobile Plant, Miass

▪︎Production: 1961 to 1964 (Ural-375) / 1964 to 1983 (Ural-375D) / 1982 to -1991 (Ural-375DM)

▪︎Production End: 1993

▪︎Powerplant: ZIL-375Ya 7.0 litre V8 petrol (carburetor) pushrod engine, 174hp

▪︎Transmission: 5-speed manual + 2-speed transfer case

▪︎Length: 24ft 1in) / Width: 9ft 8.5in / Height: 9ft 9in (with tarpaulin)

▪︎Curb Weight: 8.3 tons

▪︎Predecessor: Ural-355M

▪︎Successor: Ural-4320

▪︎Crew: 3 or more

▪︎Payload: 4.7 tons

▪︎Maximum Permissible Mass: 13 tons

▪︎Suspension: Live beam axles, leaf springs

▪︎Gearbox: 5x2 speed gearbox

▪︎Maximum Speed: 47 mph

▪︎Brakes: Pneumatic drum brakes

▪︎Fording depth: 4ft 11in

▪︎Ground Clearance: 1ft 3in

▪︎Fuel Capacity: tank: 65 gallons + 13 gallons

▪︎Fuel Economy: 4.7 to 5.2 mpg.

Sourced from en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural-375

Photographed at the 2011 International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Illinois on September 23-25, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

The Willys-Overland CJ-2A was primarily intended for farming, ranching, and industrial applications.

Photographed at the Chatham Firefighters Local 4490 Car & Truck Show in Chatham, Illinois on October 17, 2010.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 62nd Secretary of State Antique Vehicle Show in Springfield, Illinois on September 10, 2011.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs thoughtfully organized into albums, and presented by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

A more and newer sophisticated maintenance vehicle (OHW-400 Nº 2) with crane and a lot of loading space.

Photographed at the Annual Fred Britenstine Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show on the Square in Virden, Illinois on June 18, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

AUSTIN WN1 ''CHAMP'' 4X4 -

Firstly identified as Truck, ¼ ton, CT (Combat Truck) 4x4; later Truck, ¼ ton, GS (General Service) 4x4 Cargo and FFR / FFW (fitted for radio / wireless). This vehicle was known as the ''Champ'' the name originally given to the WN3 civilian version which was made in very limited numbers - some were converted to the ''Firefly'' Austin Champ Fire Appliance and Light Rescue vehicles. Only two examples of the earlier WN2 models were built. In 1947, prior to the limited production run of the Wolsley ''Mudlark'', the Nuffield Organisation had experimented with a replacement for the ''Jeep'' in the form of the ''Gutty'', but only went to three prototypes. The FVDE FV1800/FV1801 vehicles (known as the ''Mudlarks'' and the ''Champs'') were designed to be a combat Truck class with high specifications.

The Champ was manufactured from 1951 under contract No. 6 VEH 5531, but some modifications were made. In time 11,700 vehicles were issued to the Army (including the Parachute Brigade) Royal Marines and later the Territorial Army. It was full air-transportable and served in Africa, Germany, Cyprus, Libya and the Suez Campaign, early vehicles were sent for troop trials at the end of the Korean War.

Military needs changed during the 1948-1955 period and resulted in the downgrading of the FV1801 from Combat Truck (CT) to General Service (GS) in 1955. The Champ was quickly overtaken by the superior and far less expensive Land Rover - at around £1,300 each, they were double the price of a Land Rover. The last Champ entered service in 1956 when some were already being sold off. Some of the design features were being incorporated in the Austin ''Gipsy'', 21,208 were built between 1958 and 1967 as a civilian replacement for the Champ and rival for the Land Rover.

This example (Chassis No. 8529 / Body No. 8330) went into Army service 22nd November 1954 (Registration 85 BE 29) was struck off 15th March 1966 and became privately owned. In 1987 it was gifted to the Imperial War Museum, and then gifted to the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum by their trustees in September 2012 following many years being stored, totally dismantled, at Duxford.

▪︎Engine: Rolls-Royce B40 (No. 60250) 4-cylinder 2,838cc with 69bhp

▪︎Length: 12 ft

▪︎Width: 5 ft 1 in

▪︎Height: 5 ft 10 in.

Information from the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Photographed at the Route 66 Cruisers Cruise-In at the Rock 'n Roll Hardee's in Springfield, Illinois on June 18, 2011.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs thoughtfully organized into albums, and presented by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 5th Annual Mason City Prairie Harvest Days Car Show in Mason City, Illinois on September 17, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the Route 97 Cruisaders Cruise-In at the Dairy Queen in Petersburg, Illinois on May 20, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at The Vintage Times Street Rod Club’s 38th Annual Rod Run in Springfield, Illinois on September 1, 2012.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the Route 97 Cruisaders Cruise-In at the Dairy Queen in Petersburg, Illinois on May 20, 2011.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

AUSTIN WN1 ''CHAMP'' 4X4 -

Firstly identified as Truck, ¼ ton, CT (Combat Truck) 4x4; later Truck, ¼ ton, GS (General Service) 4x4 Cargo and FFR / FFW (fitted for radio / wireless). This vehicle was known as the ''Champ'' the name originally given to the WN3 civilian version which was made in very limited numbers - some were converted to the ''Firefly'' Austin Champ Fire Appliance and Light Rescue vehicles. Only two examples of the earlier WN2 models were built. In 1947, prior to the limited production run of the Wolsley ''Mudlark'', the Nuffield Organisation had experimented with a replacement for the ''Jeep'' in the form of the ''Gutty'', but only went to three prototypes. The FVDE FV1800/FV1801 vehicles (known as the ''Mudlarks'' and the ''Champs'') were designed to be a combat Truck class with high specifications.

The Champ was manufactured from 1951 under contract No. 6 VEH 5531, but some modifications were made. In time 11,700 vehicles were issued to the Army (including the Parachute Brigade) Royal Marines and later the Territorial Army. It was full air-transportable and served in Africa, Germany, Cyprus, Libya and the Suez Campaign, early vehicles were sent for troop trials at the end of the Korean War.

Military needs changed during the 1948-1955 period and resulted in the downgrading of the FV1801 from Combat Truck (CT) to General Service (GS) in 1955. The Champ was quickly overtaken by the superior and far less expensive Land Rover - at around £1,300 each, they were double the price of a Land Rover. The last Champ entered service in 1956 when some were already being sold off. Some of the design features were being incorporated in the Austin ''Gipsy'', 21,208 were built between 1958 and 1967 as a civilian replacement for the Champ and rival for the Land Rover.

This example (Chassis No. 8529 / Body No. 8330) went into Army service 22nd November 1954 (Registration 85 BE 29) was struck off 15th March 1966 and became privately owned. In 1987 it was gifted to the Imperial War Museum, and then gifted to the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum by their trustees in September 2012 following many years being stored, totally dismantled, at Duxford.

▪︎Engine: Rolls-Royce B40 (No. 60250) 4-cylinder 2,838cc with 69bhp

▪︎Length: 12 ft

▪︎Width: 5 ft 1 in

▪︎Height: 5 ft 10 in.

Information from the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum.

Photographed at the 7th Annual Mechanicsburg Magic Car & Truck Show in Mechanicsburg, Illinois on May 12, 2012.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the 29th Annual Nostalgic Indoor Invitational Auto Show at Avanti's Dome in Pekin, Illinois on March 30, 2013. The show is presented by the Early Ford V-8 Club of America Regional Group #51.

Please visit my Motor Vehicles Collection on Flickr where you will find more than 10,000 photographs that have been thoughtfully categorized into dozens of sets, and carefully organized by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

The first military K9 was introduced in 1952, it was derived from the civilian Loadstar range but was modified to make it more suitable for military service, with increased track and ground clearance and all-wheel drive. Designated as the FV16000 series the 4x4 K9 was rated at a very conservative 1 ton and the chassis was adapted for use as a cargo vehicle, ambulance, water tanker and the most numerous was the wireless body.

The services model saw duty with the Army and RAF from 1951 until as late as 1980 when some of the ‘signals vans’ were still in the hands of the ‘Territorials’, and others were in storage depots. None were bought by the Royal Navy and there is no evidence any were even used by the Senior Service. K9 was equipped with the familiar petrol, overhead valve, 3,995cc six cylinder developing 92bhp at 3000rpm. But to create the revised model, rifle clips, a gun ring in the roof, and larger tyres (9.00 x 20) single all round were fitted. There was a transfer box to take the drive to the front axle, but even so, the off-road capability was very limited.

Over the years various other modifications took place which included stoplights, and a convoy lamp and plate. Then came manually raised indicator arms and ‘NATO’ trailer socket, while some ‘K9's’ used by the BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) got electrically operated trafficators. RAF vehicles differed from their sisters in having no convoy light, a civilian pattern number plate lamp, stoplights from new and semaphore indicators in the panel behind the cab doors. Three types of cab appeared, the differences being detail changes to the scuttle (no waist level louvers on early examples, for instance) floor and rear panels. Some K9's were supplied as a cab and bare chassis to be fitted with van bodies or a water tank built by outside coachbuilders. Even the standard bodies though displayed immense variety. The most basic K9 is probably the Cargo FV16001 which was designed to carry a section of soldiers and their kit. Cargo/FFW FV16002 is the somewhat lengthy code which described the standard K9 truck when '‘fitted for wireless'’ (FFW).

In 1955 there were developments on the communications front when a new range of radio stations called '‘Larkspur'’ was introduced. This led to the FFR (fitted for radio) K9 with a mast on the body side, brackets for the aerial tuning unit (left front wing top) and various other supports and leads. These were officially described as Radio Station Van FV16003 and also as ‘Wireless Light’. There was also Radio Repair Van FV16004, which was also the same as FV16003 only fitted out for the roles described. The ambulance version called FV16005. The 200 gallon water tanker was coded FV16009 or FV16008 (for RAF) and had a proprietary body built in Durham. Other versions were FV16006 signal, FV16010 welding, and FV16011 radar calibration equipment.

K9 variants:

▪︎FV16001 - Cargo

▪︎FV16002 - Cargo Fitted For Wireless

▪︎FV16003 - Wireless Light Mk.ll

▪︎FV16004 - Radio Repair

▪︎FV16005 - Ambulance / Crash Rescue

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body Mk.lll Unfitted (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 267 Mk.l (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 511 Mk.l (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 315 Mk.lA (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 606 Mk.l (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 634 Mk.l (RAF)

▪︎FV16006 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lll, RVT 587 Mk.ll (RAF)

▪︎FV16007 - Signals, E Type Body, Mk.lV, RVT 105 Mk.lA (RAF)

▪︎FV16008 - Water Tanker, 200 gallon (RAF)

▪︎FV16009 - Water Tanker, 200 gallon

▪︎FV16010 - Welding

▪︎FV16011 - Radar Calibration Equipment, Mk.l

▪︎FV16012 - Cargo, Multi-Fuel

▪︎FV16013 - Ambulance / Crash Rescue, Multi-Fuel

▪︎FV16014 - Signals, E Type Body

▪︎FV16015 - Wireles, Light, Mk.ll, Direction Finder, R216

▪︎FV16106 - Sensitivity Test Vehicle.

General characteristics:

▪︎Manufacturer: Austin Motor Company Limited

▪︎Manufactured: 1952 to 1955

▪︎Powerplant: Austin Truck ''High Speed'' Series 2, 3993cc, six cylinder petrol, overhead valves, 90bhp at 3000rpm

▪︎Torque: 190lbf/ft at 1300rpm

▪︎Transmission: 4 Forward, 1 Reverse x 2 with part-time 4x4

▪︎Suspension: Live axles on semi-elliptical multi-leaf springs, progressive rubber bumpers, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers

▪︎Brakes: Hydraulic on all wheels, parking on rear, no servo

▪︎Construction: Pressed-steel welded cab, rear body according to role

▪︎Electrical system: 12v or 24v according to role

▪︎Fuel Tank: 20 Imperial gallons

▪︎Range: 310 miles at 27mph

▪︎Tyres: 9.00in x 20in 10 ply, cross country

▪︎Length: 17ft 4in (Standard Cargo Version)

▪︎Width 7ft 3in

▪︎Height: Top of canvas 8ft 8in / top of cab 8ft

▪︎Wheelbase: 11ft 5in

▪︎Unladen Weight: 3.122 tons.

Sourced from:

trucksplanet.com/models/austin-k9-military/

www.lr-mad.co.uk/en/austin-k9-truck/

Photographed at the Second Annual New Salem Shrine Club Car Show in Petersburg, Illinois on September 21, 2013. The car show is held in conjunction the Petersburg Harvest Fest celebration, and is co-sponsored by Brandt and Meteor Manufacturing.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find over 10,000 car and truck photos organized in albums by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.

Photographed at the Second Annual New Salem Shrine Club Car Show in Petersburg, Illinois on September 21, 2013. The car show is held in conjunction the Petersburg Harvest Fest celebration, and is co-sponsored by Brandt and Meteor Manufacturing.

Please visit my collection of Motor Vehicles on Flickr where you will find over 10,000 car and truck photos organized in albums by model year, manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. This project, which began in 2008, continues to expand with new material added daily.